The influential All Assam Students Union on Wednesday said that the peace initiative launched by the pro-talks leaders of the ULFA'a 28 th battalion raised hopes for a solution, provided the top brass of the United Liberation Front of Asom and the Indian government respond to it by holding a direct and unconditional political dialogue to solve the insurgency issue.

The AASU also lauded the stand taken by the pro-talks ULFA leaders from the outfit's two crack companies � 'A' and 'C' companies of the 28 th battalion � against the unabated illegal migration from Bangladesh across the porous border posing a serious threat to identity and culture of the indigenous populace in Assam.

The AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya said that the central executive body of the students union resolved that the peace efforts initiated by leaders of 'A' and 'C' companies of ULFA's 28 th battalion had definitely raised hopes for a solution to the conflict.

"The AASU while appreciating the efforts of the faction of the pro-talks ULFA leaders, will like to make it clear that permanent solution to the ULFA problem will be possible only when the top leaders of the outfit and the Indian government hold unconditional talks," the AASU leader said.

The AASU while lauding the stand taken by the pro-talks ULFA leaders on the burning issue of unabated infiltration from Bangladesh launched a diatribe against the Congress governments at the Centre and in the state for being "soft" and "indifferent" towards the increasing threat from Bangladeshi infiltrators, the Inter Services Intelligence and various fundamental forces, and said the fundamental forces were thriving in Assam and the country at the blessings of the Congress party.

"The Bangladeshi infiltrators, ISI agents and operatives, and fundamental forces want the Congress party to remain in power in Assam so that their dreams of merger of Assam and the Northeast in a Greater Bangladesh is realized," AASU advisor Bhattacharyya said.